Grizzlys to compete in Contenders after buying spot from Rogue

Grizzlys, an organization owned by Montreal Esports, has bought a 2018 Contenders Season 1 North America spot from Rogue. The story was first reported on by NJay and confirmed by Montreal team officials.

The team already owns a roster that has qualified for the North American Open Division playoffs as the 16th seed, although team officials would not say whether the roster for Contenders would be the same or a different roster. Grizzlys plan to make an announcement sometime next week.

Montreal Esports was first announced in October of last year as part of Dreamhack Montreal. The team announced plans at that time to hold a qualifier tournament to find local talent to represent the new organization, owned by MMA fighter Georges St-Pierre.

The organization from French Canada will be taking over the spot last occupied by a French roster. After being one of the most dominant Western teams for much of 2017, things seemed to go south for the Rogue roster and organization by the fall. The team just missed the playoffs for Contenders Season One North America 2017 after a fifth place finish and their bid to join the Overwatch League was rejected. Unable to join the League or sell any of its players, the organization released its roster in October.

News of this sale comes less than a month after it was announced that esports infrastructure firm ReKTGlobal had acquired the Rogue organization. At the time of the sale's announcement, the organization reiterated it would continue to pursue an Overwatch League franchise. Grizzlys officials could not give a date or price of the sale.

With its spot now guaranteed, the Grizzlys will be able to be seen in action next month when the first season of Contenders 2018 begins.